Aug 24, 2016
The Rail Trail
The rail trail is a very long, 50 KM route of rail line that has been purchased by a bunch of levels of government in order to remove the rails. In their place a proper trail is to be built for hikers, walkers and bicyclists.
Towards the end of July, early in the day before the heat became impossible, we took the girls for a walk along the trail. The rail line had been pulled up but there were stacks of ties all along the trail.
The trail is not open yet but many are using it including these ATV’s which are NOT allowed on the trail.
There is a plan in place to develop the trail one step at a time. The first stage was to raise $500,000.00 which was done this summer and that money is to be used for design and access control. I am happy to say that I did donate to that first level.
A mere $160.00 will fund the development of one metre of the trail ( 3.28 feet ).
The plan is in four stages.
But the $160.00 covers all four stages for the one metre.
There is a lot of work to do.
Here we are overlooking our park ( Holiday Park Resort ) and the golf course. Our lake is in the background.
We crossed over a lovely stream. This is the stream that in the spring brings down an enormous amount of water from the mountains and hills and often is the reason for the rise of our lake in the spring.
Can you imagine being able to travel 50km/31 miles along a few lakes? What a legacy we are able to leave for those coming behind us.
These are the numbers.
So happy that this is happening within my lifetime. Such a gift to this area of the Okanagan. It is my intention to alter my will within the next few weeks to give to this marvelous trail. What a legacy!
Sadly Carmeh began to limp due to the large pebbles and uneven trail and Colin carried her back. Had we continued on, we have been told that there are some fabulous views of our lake as the trail continues lakeside.
Caeli kept plodding along.
The rails ties in the previous photos and the dry brush along the side are serious fire hazards at the moment. One of those rail tie piles is what caught fire a few days ago which is when we evacuated.
Here we are back at the entrance to Holiday Park where we left our golf cart so that the girls would not have to walk so far.
Yes that is a large RV from Alberta hooking up to a large boat. Hey they make the economy work around these parts 😉
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Love the rail trails, we have walked and ridden our bikes on a few, favorite one in Algonquin Park, but also a ver nice one in Louisiana.
Enjoy your new trail
This old railway track will make a great walking/biking trail as the views are fantastic in many spots, especially as it follows along Kalamalka Lake. When I was young, I rode the train along that route several times. In those days, we lived in Edmonton, and I would travel out by train to stay with my grandparents (who lived in Kelowna) to spend the summer. When the Edmonton to Vancouver train would make a stop at the station in Kamloops, a person would have to switch to a dayliner that would continue along through Coldstream and then end at the train station in Kelowna. It is great that you will have such close access to the trail from where you live.
Excellent post. Imagine biking the 50 kms, camping overnight or for a day or two and heading back. Looks really nice there.
Those Rail Trails are wonderful things. There is one on the coast, where they used the old rails evenand hook bikes onto them and you get to bike your way out and back, thought that sounded fun and can’t wait to do it! Have seen ads for the trails in the East too.. You get to see things off the beaten path, yet right near everything too a different perspective….